Praise Olatoke: From Lagos to the Los Angeles Chargers
Early Life and Athletic Beginnings
Praise Olatoke's journey from the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, to the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers is a testament to perseverance and unexpected opportunities. Born in Lagos, Olatoke's family relocated to Scotland when he was only five years old. It was there that he began his athletic pursuits, initially focusing on track—a sport in which he showed considerable promise.
His prowess on the track earned him a scholarship at Canada's Trinity Western, an opportunity that set the stage for his eventual move to the United States. In 2021, Olatoke transferred to Ohio State University, where he spent two seasons as a key member of the Buckeyes track team. However, his time there was not without challenges. During one of his seasons, Olatoke suffered a torn Achilles tendon, a setback that could have derailed many athletes' careers.
"I'm not going to deny that I got lucky to be in this situation. So many different dominoes had to fall my way," Olatoke candidly admits.
A Surprising Turn to Football
Interestingly, Olatoke's shift to football was almost serendipitous. He was introduced to the sport through club football at Ohio State—a far cry from the intensity and visibility of NCAA football.
"I never played NCAA football. The club football is just guys who come together to play football and enjoy a Saturday morning. That's really it. It might be 15, 20 people in a crowd. There could be 50. Who knows?" he recalls.
Despite not stepping onto the field for NCAA play, Olatoke made a memorable impact during his time in club football, notably catching a 65-yard touchdown pass against Michigan State. His raw talent and potential did not go unnoticed.
A Leap into Professional Football
It was through the NFL International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) that Olatoke's football career began to take shape. The program, designed to provide international athletes an opportunity to play in the NFL, became the launching pad for his professional ambitions. Following his time at the IMG Academy, Olatoke was allocated to the Los Angeles Chargers.
But the road to securing a spot wasn't straightforward. Olatoke attended the Philadelphia Eagles' rookie minicamp but was not selected.
"After the IPP and stuff, there were a couple of teams that reached out. One of them, obviously, was the Eagles. I went to their rookie minicamp, but that didn't work out," he recounts.
However, fate had another twist in store. A few weeks later, Olatoke received an unexpected call from the Los Angeles Chargers, inviting him to their minicamp.
"A few weeks later, the Chargers reached out to me and said, 'Hey, we would be interested in bringing you out to our minicamp'. At first, I wasn't sure what was going on because they only sent me a one-way ticket," he explains.
It was during this minicamp that Olatoke’s potential truly shone. He recalls the pivotal moment: "On the last day—which was a Thursday—one of the staff said, 'Hey, you've got a meeting with the GM'. I walked in and saw the GM. There were a couple of other people there, and they basically said: 'We like you. We think we're going to take a chance on you, so if you're up for it and you're willing to work, we're going to sign you.'"
"There and then, within an hour-and-a-half or so, they offered me a contract, and I'm a Charger," Olatoke shares with a mixture of pride and disbelief.
The Chargers and Beyond
Now officially part of the Chargers, Olatoke joins fellow IPPP participant CJ Okoye on a team eager to improve on last season's 5-12 record. His journey is a unique blend of perseverance, raw talent, and a bit of luck navigating the labyrinthine path to professional football. Along the way, Olatoke has formed meaningful relationships, including with former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who is a close friend.
Reflecting on his improbable journey, Olatoke offers a philosophy that many young athletes might find inspiring: "If you want it bad enough, I think you can always make things fall your way. You can create your own luck essentially."
His story serves as a powerful reminder that the path to success is often unconventional and paved with unexpected turns. For Praise Olatoke, the road from Lagos to Los Angeles has been anything but ordinary, and his future with the Chargers looks promising.